Bowlen picked Josh McDaniels, who had been offensive coordinator for the record-setting New England Patriots. But four other candidates interviewed by the Broncos have become head coaches elsewhere: Steve Spagnuolo (Rams), Raheem Morris (Bucs), Jason Garrett (Cowboys), Leslie Frazier (Vikings).

With Garrett and Frazier getting top jobs this month, a case can be made the Broncos’ coaching search committee laid the ground work for 15 percent of the league.

The only two candidates who interviewed for the Broncos’ top job who don’t yet have head jobs elsewhere are Rick Dennison, who was on Shanahan’s staff the previous 14 years and is now the Houston Texans’ offensive coordinator, and Miami secondary/assistant head coach Todd Bowles, who still holds that position.

Nicki Jhabvala is a Broncos beat writer for The Denver Post. She was previously the digital news editor for sports. Before arriving in Denver, she spent five years at Sports Illustrated working primarily as its online NBA editor. She also spent two years as a home page editor at the New York Times.